Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Sankey and Boyes.

Councillor Willingham left  the meeting after agenda item 4 due to a Mayoral engagement.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Sub Committee Alcohol and Gambling held on 1^st October and 27^th October.

To approve the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Miscellaneous Committee held on 1^st October and 5^th November.

Meeting of the previous sub-committee meetings were approved.

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report as published.

The responses to Member questions were as follows:

-       The application is practically the same as the application that the committee approved last year.

-       The Chief Officer for Police that is referred to in the report is actually the Chief Constable.

The democratic services officer read out representation from 2 objectors, the points they made were as follows:

-       The frequency exemption means that the Council feels that it has no choice but to grant the licence.

-       The committee should avoid watering down the conditions.  The conditions are based on the Councils own 2020 Community Impact Statement.

-       The Council is aware that females in particular feel disadvantaged by the Sexual Entertainment and the licensing of SEV’s.

-       It is concerning that the applicant has again requested a variation to conditions, which would mean that they can hand out flyers for the bus and used a marked vehicle to transport customers.

-       Although Dream Boys events are advertised freely and it could be perceived that Eroticats are being treated differently, however there is an epidemic of male violence against women and girls not an epidemic of violence against men and boys.

-       Strip clubs normalise the objectification and dehumanisation of women and girls and the Council was right to issue a policy that limits the way that these clubs are advertised.

-       Some might say that there is far worse available on line, this is true but should not be used as an argument to allow strip clubs to be advertised freely.

-       A request was made for the Council to continue to lobby the Home Office to remove the exemption.

-       Many women avoid the town during race week due to routine harassment from drunk men.

-       Turning pubs into strip clubs only reinforces objectifying women. The SEV’s make the atmosphere really unpleasant and unsafe for women.

-       GlosWomen have written to the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls to request that the SEV frequency exemption be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

Three supporters statements were then read, they made the following points:

-       She has worked for the applicant for over a decade, starting as a performer and now as a house mother. 

-       She stated that she stays with the organisation as it is the only one that provides security. 

-       The courtesy bus plays a vital part in getting the performers home safely.

-       It is a well-run, safe legal business, performers return year after year to work for them, which is an indication of how happy they are with the organisation.

-       She has worked at places before under the exemption and they are nowhere near as well organised and the performers are not as well looked after.

-       Regulated sexual entertainment provides a greater protection for all concerned in either working at or attending Cheltenham Festivals.

-       The police know the venue and the operator and work well together  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 2, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Paragraph 1; Information relating to any individual

Paragraph 2; Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

The committee then voted unanimously on the following:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 2, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Paragraph 1; Information relating to any individual

Paragraph 2; Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

After the Senior Licensing Officer gave his report as published, the driver answered questions from the committee and was given the opportunity to address them.

The committee adjourned to make their decision and it was agreed that the driver should attend the relevant course to be advised of by the licensing team.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report.  The Members and the driver  had the opportunity to ask the Licensing Officer questions.  The driver then addressed the committee and responded to their questions.

The committee adjourned to make their decision and it was decided that the driver would receive a written warning.

Prior to the Licensing Officer introducing the report, Members left the Chamber and looked at the vehicle and tried sitting 3 people in the back of the vehicle as this was the matter that was under consideration.

The Licensing Officer then introduced the report and responded to questions from both Members and the driver.

The driver was then given the opportunity to address the committee and answer their questions.

The committee adjourned for them to make their decision.

The decision was unanimous to refuse to increase the capacity of the vehicle.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report as published and responded to Member questions.

The applicant was then given the opportunity to address the committee and answer Member questions.

The committee adjourned to make their decision.  The committee unanimously decided to refuse to renew the licence.

There were none.

There were none,

The next meeting will be held on the 4^th March 2026.

The next meeting of the Full Licensing Committee will be 4^th March 2026.